Can you walk across the verrazano-narrows bridge?

Question

My last 3 Saturdays have been a pedestrian adventure thanks to the 'summer streets' in NYC. I walk from my home in Queens across the 59th st. bridge along a traffic-free Park ave to the Brooklyn bridge and home again. I have lived in NYC for 15 years and have never been to Staten island but I really want to check it out. Is there any way to walk there? I'm happy to get the ferry, but would prefer to walk over the bridge...just for the adventure. Thanks for any answers : )

Answer 1

No, you can't.

Answer 2

No you can't safely.  Take the ferry.

Answer 3

The Verrazano was one of the last of Robert Moses's curses upon NYC, and so there is no pedestrian passage, no access for bicycles, and no subway tracks.  Motor vehicles only.

The only one of the four bridges to Staten Island with pedestrian access is the Goethals.

If you do take the ferry, do not simply take the next boat back to Manhattan.  Walk down Richmond Terrace (west) to Snug Harbor, or Bay Street to either Victory Boulevard or to Stapleton.  Explore a little.